After several days of travel, Uchiha Sou and the others finally reached the outskirts of Konoha.
Gazing at the three statues towering over Kage Rock, Uchiha Sou felt a little wistful.
Three years. Do you know what I've been through these past three years?
While everyone else spent those three years playing "If you're my brother, come fight me," I spent mine playing "If you're a ninja, come fight me"!
"Captain, we're back." Shiranui Genma gazed at Konoha in the distance, unable to keep himself from speaking.
"Captain, thank you."
Might Guy and Might Duy had none of their usual youthful exuberance just then. They, too, looked a little wistful.
"If it weren't for your guidance and leadership, Captain, we might never have made it back."
The cruelty of war had been etched deep in the hearts of everyone who had taken part. On the battlefield, they might not have thought too much about it; after all, they had all kinds of enemies to deal with.
But once they returned to Konoha, to their own homes, it was hard to hold back their emotions.
"Captain, we..."
Shisui and Uchiha Shizuka seemed caught up in the same emotions and wanted to say something too, but Uchiha Sou cut them off before they could speak.
"What are you thanking me for? Without your cooperation, none of us could have made it this far."
Uchiha Sou smiled and looked toward Konoha in the distance. Then he raised his arm high.
"Come on, let's go home!"
"Then let's see who can reach the Konoha Gate first! The loser does a thousand handstand push-ups!"
As soon as Uchiha Sou finished speaking, Might Duy shouted and instantly shot forward in a streak of green light.
Might Guy wasn't about to be outdone. He took off running